RSS-backed farmers’ body supports govt's farm laws

New Delhi: The RSS-affiliated Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), which has not been part of the farmers’ organisations protesting against the three farm laws, has advised the Centre not to repeal the laws.

It said there was a need to amplify the voices of all farmers and not just of those who grow wheat and paddy.

A statement issued by the body on Friday said the farm bills will bring the dream of “one nation, one market” closer to reality and will empower farmers if implemented after adopting some changes. The body has suggested some amendments to the law, which include a portal to register all genuine buyers so that farmers are not cheated, special courts that address complaints from farmers and an assurance of Minimum Support Price (MSP) . The efforts made by the government to make changes to the mandi system, which has been exploiting farmers for years, has to be welcomed, said the body.

“The BKS has been working to fix many loopholes in the APMC act to ensure it helps farmers.” "As the largest farmers’ organisation in the country, we believe it is our responsibility to listen to voices of all kinds of farmers. In this country, there are many crops, besides paddy and wheat.

We think the farm laws have something for the benefit of all farmers collectively. Hence, we request the government to not repeal the laws, ” the statement said .The body appealed to the government to not repeal the laws and asked the farmers to approach the discussions with an open mind. Earlier, BKS leaders had asked the Centre to consider changing some provisions in the law and had supported the farmers’ agitation.

But once the talks with the government began, it asked the farmers to not be confrontational with the government. “Even we were not consulted before the laws were framed. But if the government wants to talk now, farmers should not be rigid in their stand,” a BKS functionary said.

BKS general secretary Badri Narayan Chaudhary recently said it was important to note home minister Amit Shah’s “conciliatory note with the agitating farmers”. The Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM), another RSS affiliate, has also issued a statement opposing the laws.